Minister approves return of Nantou commissioner

By Loa Iok-sin / Staff reporter

The Ministry of the Interior yesterday approved an application from Nantou County Commissioner Lee Chao-ching (李朝卿) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) — whose term in office was suspended due to corruption charges — to resume his position yesterday after he was freed on bail on Tuesday night.

“Yes, we have received the official letter from Lee requesting that he resume his term in office today [Wednesday], and I have just signed and approved it,” Minister of the Interior Lee Hong-yuan (李鴻源) said.

“It’s a common practice that when a suspended official sends in a request to resume their term in office we approve it if there’s nothing barring us from doing so,” Lee Hong-yuan said.

Lee Chao-ching, who had been detained since Nov. 30 last year was on Tuesday indicted on charges of receiving kickbacks from contractors. Prosecutors say that Lee took more than NT$31.7 million (US$1.06 million) in bribes, with part of the money being distributed to county government officials.

Prosecutors claim Lee Chao-ching received money in 117 cases, and charged him with corruption and violation of the Government Procurement Act (政府採購法).

After nearly four months in detention, Lee Chao-ching was released on NT$20 million bail.

Lee Chao-ching did not make a public appearance yesterday and did not respond to the minister’s approval of his request to resume his term in office.